Supporters of Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot show their might

JAIPUR: While the Congress central leadership delayed its decision on who would be Rajasthan’s chief minister, the supporters of potential candidates Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot held demonstrations and shouted slogans here all through Thursday.

Even as hectic parleys were being held by Congress top leaders in New Delhi, the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) headquarters and residences of Gehlot as well as Pilot remained surrounded by the party workers and the two leaders’ supporters. Policemen were deployed in heavy numbers and barricades were put on the city roads to prevent untoward incidents.

Sachin Pilot’s supporters outside his house.

The crowds swelled and sloganeering intensified shortly after midday when media organisations started suggesting that Gehlot, the AICC general secretary and former CM, was likely to get the coveted post. All roads leading to 49, Civil Lines, the official residence of Gehlot were soon filled with supporters and policemen.

A Gehlot supporter was seen erecting a billboard in front of his residence which read, “Congratulations to Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthan peoples’ voice and leader of youth, on becoming the chief minister for the third time.”

As news channels flashed that Gehlot was on his way to Jaipur and the administration reinforced police force around his house, worried youth were seen hooked to mobile phones live streaming the political drama thorough Apps. Some youths could not handle the pressure and cursed Gehlot for taking away the victory credit from young leader Pilot. Many supporters of Pilot, the PCC chief who is credited for reviving state Congress after its drubbing in the 2013 polls, turned gloomy after the TV channels initial reports but soon got back to slogan shouting.

For the likes of Mahendra Singh Khatana, a student in Jaipur, the day began on a promising note. But the evening did not live up to his expectations as clamour for Gehlot grew. “We have been traditional BJP voters but for the first time we voted for Congress because we wanted Pilot to be the chief minister. It’s not about the caste, it’s about giving credit where it is due,” Khatana said.

The police bandobast was tightened up outside Pilot’s residence in city’s Jalupura area but the youths refused to budge. Some were angry and others were disheartened but all were closely following news channels via mobile phones. One of Pilot’s strident supporters was barely able to hold back tears when he heard a TV correspondent informing the news anchor that decks have been cleared for Gehlot to take the CM post.

By evening the restless youth in Dausa, Karauli, Bharatpur and Ajmer gathered on highways and near railway tracks to demand that Pilot be made the CM. The state police took swift action and soon dispersed the youth.

The crowd started continued to swell also at RPCC HQs, which is located close to Pilot’s official residence. Most of the elected MLAs, in the meantime, remained lodged a private hotel near the city’s Sanganer airport.

With the passing of time, some MLAs and leaders began reaching Gehlot’s house. The large number of Gehlot supporters gathered at his residence which occasionally chanted, “Gehlot Rajasthan ki aandhi hai, Rajasthan ka Gandhi hai.”

MLA from Deeg-Kumher (Bharatpur), Vishvendra Singh and Independent MLA from Dudu (Jaipur) Babu Lal Nagar were among the early birds who reached Gehlot’s residence. Twice in the day, the supporters learnt that Gehlot had been called back from Delhi airport to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi. By late night, the crowd thinned out at all three places.